Background: Stormwater quality improvement systems are being implemented on various infrastructure projects throughout the world. The Illinois Tollway implemented the Bioswale Demonstration Project along the Tri-State (I-294) Tollway from Touhy Avenue to Sanders Road Overpass. The project included approximately 7-miles of wet and dry bioswales with various soil material and native plant species depending on hydrologic, geologic, and topographic conditions. Project goals included removal of pollutants typically found in highway stormwater runoff (e.g. PAH, TSS, Sediment, etc.)

Scope:A critical element of the successful completion of this project was the communication with various government agencies; including US Fish and Wildlife, Illinois State Geological Survey and civic organizations such as, the Friends of the Forest Preserve and Friends of the Parks. For example, due to previous Tri-State roadway widening project, a designated wetland of quality within the forest preserve property and a sensitive habitat for the endangered Massasagua Rattlesnake was being drained to the roadway ditches. 2IM Group developed innovative solutions in coordination with the Forest Preserve District to divert spring and summer runoff to the wetland and bypass the winter salt runoff through the ditch system.